Ashbrook hoping switch will spur offense

Published: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at 08:46 PM.

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“Our feeling is that making this change is just what’s best for us,” Ashbrook coach Greg Hill said. “Austin’s a good quarterback and Trey’s not going to play quarterback at the next level. Plus, it strengthens us at two spots and allows us to get our best 11 on the field.”

In truth, Brice had never played quarterback until his freshman year three years ago; Senior basketball player Trey Dellinger was the quarterback at Grier Middle School before choosing to concentrate on basketball in high school.

“Trey is just so versatile,” Hill said. “There’s so many things he can do on the field for us. Hopefully, he’ll create matchup issues at the receiver position and give Austin a top target.”

For his part, Brice started thinking the position change would be in order after attending six college football camps this summer. Only The Citadel told Brice they would consider recruiting him as a quarterback, while Appalachian State, Duke, Furman, North Carolina A&T and

N.C. State considered him as a cornerback or slot receiver prospect.

“Many of the colleges are looking at me at defense,” said Brice, an athletic 6-foot, 175-pounder. “So I just wanted to do whatever would help the team best.”

Besides, as Hill points out — and Brice nods his head in agreement – Brice isn’t what you would call a “classic” dropback quarterback.

“He was simply the best athlete for the position from our perspective,” Hill said of Brice. “Even with all the yards he’s thrown for, he’s not what you would call a good throwing quarterback. But he’s a winner and he gives us the kind of play-making ability that makes our offense effective. That won’t change this season.”

GASTONIA — You hear Ashbrook High School has the school’s all-time leading passer returning for his senior football season and you assume the Green Wave will have one of the most prolific aerial attacks around.

You wouldn’t be wrong, even as senior Trey Brice is changing positions after his record-setting junior season at quarterback. Brice set a school record with 2,501 yards passing last season, including a county-record 521 yards in a 40-36 win at rival Forestview.

But this season, Brice will move to wide receiver as junior Austin Mitchell becomes the starting quarterback.

To Entas’ point, the six receivers who caught passes in the record 521-yard game all graduated last season.

And while Brice has certainly proven himself to be a solid quarterback, Mitchell did throw for 246 yards the week before in a 44-16 victory at Kings Mountain when Brice was out of action with an injury.

“Our feeling is that making this change is just what’s best for us,” Ashbrook coach Greg Hill said. “Austin’s a good quarterback and Trey’s not going to play quarterback at the next level. Plus, it strengthens us at two spots and allows us to get our best 11 on the field.”

In truth, Brice had never played quarterback until his freshman year three years ago; Senior basketball player Trey Dellinger was the quarterback at Grier Middle School before choosing to concentrate on basketball in high school.

“Trey is just so versatile,” Hill said. “There’s so many things he can do on the field for us. Hopefully, he’ll create matchup issues at the receiver position and give Austin a top target.”

For his part, Brice started thinking the position change would be in order after attending six college football camps this summer. Only The Citadel told Brice they would consider recruiting him as a quarterback, while Appalachian State, Duke, Furman, North Carolina A&T and

N.C. State considered him as a cornerback or slot receiver prospect.

“Many of the colleges are looking at me at defense,” said Brice, an athletic 6-foot, 175-pounder. “So I just wanted to do whatever would help the team best.”

Besides, as Hill points out — and Brice nods his head in agreement – Brice isn’t what you would call a “classic” dropback quarterback.

“He was simply the best athlete for the position from our perspective,” Hill said of Brice. “Even with all the yards he’s thrown for, he’s not what you would call a good throwing quarterback. But he’s a winner and he gives us the kind of play-making ability that makes our offense effective. That won’t change this season.”

A two-way threat, Brice enters his senior season with 3,970 yards passing and 33 touchdowns and 1,048 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns in his career.

And while Brice’s position switch is the first thing most Ashbrook fans will notice about their team, Hill’s attention has been to gain experience for the extraordinary youth on his team.

“It’s the youngest team we’ve ever had,” said Hill, who enters his fourth season as Green Wave head coach with a roster of 13 seniors, 14 juniors, 10 sophomores and one freshman.